Shiner is a Lavaca County city in Texas best known to many for its name, but for anyone who needs a process server in Shiner, TX the practical question is how quickly papers can move. Citations, petitions, subpoenas and notices to vacate can be given an attempt within 5 business days, within 48 hours or within 24 hours, and a signed Return of Service is emailed once they are delivered. About 2,120 people live in town, and the county courthouse is in Hallettsville.
What a Process Server Costs in Shiner: Three Flat Tiers
Shiner customers choose among Standard Service at $69 (attempt within 5 business days), Rush Service at $119 (attempt within 48 hours) and 24-Hour Service at $169 (attempt within 24 hours). The pricing page repeats this and the order form starts a job. County constables and sheriffs follow fee schedules set by commissioners courts under Local Government Code 118.131.
Who May Serve Papers in Shiner: Certified Servers, Constables and Court Orders
Rule 103 says a sheriff, constable or other authorized officer may serve, as may an adult 18 or older appointed in a written order, or a person certified by the Judicial Branch Certification Commission. People with a personal stake in the case may not. Sheriffs and constables hold the eviction citations too.
Where Shiner Cases Are Filed: Justice Court, County Court and District Court
Filing happens at or near the Lavaca County Courthouse, 109 North La Grange Street in Hallettsville, about 13.9 miles from Shiner in a straight line. Justice courts decide money claims up to $20,000 excluding interest, plus evictions. A county court shares claims between $200 and $20,000 and a statutory county court can hear cases over $500 up to $325,000. Because the justice precinct turns on the address involved, the justice court clerk can say which one handles a given property.
Eviction Notices in Shiner: Notice to Vacate and the Justice Court Case
Three days is the minimum written warning a landlord owes a tenant before filing, unless the lease sets some other period. The paper can be mailed, left inside the home where it will be seen, or handed to a tenant aged 16 or over, and a private server can do the handing. Afterward the court's citation must be served by a sheriff or constable, with an alias citation available if 5 business days go by.
Divorce Papers, Citations and Substituted Service for Shiner Defendants
Handing a citation to the defendant, or sending it by registered or certified mail with a return receipt, is how Texas expects service to begin. If a defendant keeps ducking, a motion under Rule 106(b) backed by a sworn statement can win permission for another method. A company is served through its registered agent. Default judgment is off the table until ten days after proof of service is filed.
Subpoena Service, Witness Fees and Records Near Shiner
Shiner has its own police department. Three hospitals fall within range: Yoakum Community Hospital, 1200 Carl Ramert Drive, Yoakum (about 9.0 miles); Lavaca Medical Center, 1400 North Texana Street, Hallettsville (about 14.2 miles); and Memorial Hospital, 1110 North Sarah Dewitt Drive, Gonzales (about 17.7 miles). A witness is paid $10 for each day of attendance, and a custodian of records is paid $1.
ZIP Codes and Neighboring Cities Around Shiner
ZIP 77984 covers Shiner. Neighboring cities are Yoakum, Hallettsville and Gonzales.
Shiner Process Server FAQ
Can I serve the papers myself?
No, because parties to a suit are barred from doing it.
What if the person avoids service?
Ask the court for a Rule 106(b) order, listing the places the person might be found.
Can papers be taped to a door?
Not without a Rule 106(b) order.